James Walker (footballer)

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For the Australian rules footballer, see James Walker (Australian rules footballer).

Personal information
Jimmy Walker
Full name	James Barry Walker
Date of birth	July 9, 1973 (age 33)
Place of birth	Nottingham, England
Height	5 ft. 11 in.
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club	West Ham United
Number	23
Youth clubs
1991-1993	Notts County
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1993-2004 2004-	Walsall West Ham United	403 (0) 013 (0)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. * Appearances (Goals)

James Barry Walker (born July 9, 1973 in Sutton-in-Ashfield) is a professional English association football player. Walker, a goalkeeper, plays for Premiership outfit, West Ham United, wearing squad number 23.

The London club acquired his services from Walsall on a Bosman free transfer in the summer of 2004. Walker is a cult hero at the Bescot Stadium, having made over 400 appearances for the Midlands club. He was awarded a testimonial in the summer of 2003. Whilst at Walsall he was a key player in three promotion seasons, and won their Player of the Season award twice. He is best known for his agility and ability to make world-class saves which defy his diminutive goalkeeper's frame of 5'11".

Indeed, Walker's popularity proved such that an autobiography was commissioned to coincide with his testimonial season. Ghosted by Walsall F.C. programme editor, Andrew Poole, it proved to be a relative success with fans of Walsall and of West Ham United

He is nicknamed "Wacka" because of the distance of his goal kicks, a variation on his life-long family nickname of "Wack"^{[citation needed]}.

Walker was the second choice goalkeeper at Upton Park, but gained a first team place within the year of his arrival. A serious injury in the Play-off final of 2005 saw him miss the majority of the 2005/06 season. Walker made a quick return to fitness, and made three appearances in the 2005-06 seasons, making his Premiership debut at the age of 32. He also picked up a loser's medal in the FA Cup Final as an unused substitute. The presence of Roy Carroll and Robert Green as goalkeepers at West Ham means that Walker's first-team chances are currently limited, though he remains very popular at Upton Park.

He is married and has one son.